Gilbert h



G. H. BLAKESLEY.

ELASTIC GIRGLET.

No. 439,375. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

L e d 0 M 0 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT H. BLAKESLEY, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BLAKESLEY NOVELTY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELASTIC ClRCLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,37 5, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed April 12, 1389.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT H. BLAKESLEY, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Elastic Circlets; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in elastic circlet-s for arm-bands and garters, the object being to produce an article which shall be soft and fiufiy, of fine appearance, and superior in durability and comfort to anything of the kind now in use.

\Vit-h these ends in view my invention consists in a circlet composed of a section of elastic fiber-covered stock, a two-armed clasp, the arms whereof respectively bind the rubber and covering together at the ends of the section of stock, and a trimming inclosing the said clasp, the rubber being normally unstretched and the fibrous covering being loose around it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a view of a section of a rubber strand, such as may be employed for making elastic braided stock to be worked up into arm-bands under my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a section of unfinished stock having a rubber core and a single braided covering as applied with a rapid feed. Fig. 3 is a view of a section of finished stock which has two coverings, the stock being shown under tension. Fig. 4 is a View of the free or unreeled end of along length of stock in its normal or relaxed condition, showing the end of the rubber core and the end of the braided cover bound together by a two-armed clasp. Fig.

. 5 is a view showing such end of the stock stretched and its core and covering bound together again at two adjacent points, marking the length to be cut oif for an arm-band or similar article. Fig. 6 is aview of a band formed by cutting the stock on the line a b of the preceding figure, with the stock in its normal position and with the clasp doubled to bring the ends of the stock in line. Fig.

7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 0 Serial No. 307,064- (No model.)

d of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view of a finished arm-band made under my invention. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 6 f of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detached plan view of one of the two-armed cla'sps, and Fig. ll is a similar edge view thereof.

In producing the stock illustrated by the drawings a very long rubber strand A'is passed, under tension, through a braidingmachine applying a covering B of cotton thread. This product is then passed, under tension, through abraiding-machine applying a loose covering C of soft threadsuch as silk or woolthe two coverings so applied forming a soft compound loose envelope or cover for the rubber. In working up such stock in the manufacture of arm-bands one end of its core and one end of its cover are bound together by being clasped between one of the arms of a small two-armed clasp D, made of light sheet metal, the other end-of core and covering being virtually bound together by the compressing action of the overlying coils of stock which is wound on a reel as it leaves the braider applying the second covering. A length of stock suitable for an arm-band is then measured OE, and, as herein shown, engaged with a conveniently-located pin E and stretched. Then the clasp at'the end of tho stock is turned inward, so as to bring the ends of the band to be formed end to end, and its free arm clamped upon the stock to bind the rubber and covering together at a pointjust outside of the place where the stock is to be cut. The rubber and cover are also bound together at a point just inside of the point where the division is to be made by clamping them between one arm of another and similar clasp. The rubber and cover having now been secured together on opposite sides of the point where the stock is to be cut, the stock is out, as indicated by the line (L b of Fig. 3 of the drawings. The stock cut 06 at once recovers its normal condition and forms the band F, and the clasp just applied is left at the end of the stock to answer for the clasp of the nextband, which is formed by repeating the operation just above described, and so on. Before or after the loop formed at the end of the stock the measured end of the stock is to reduce it in size, so as to permit the application of the clasps, which would not otherwise be firmly and neatly secured in place. By thus binding the rubber and covering together at points on opposite sides of and adjacent to the place where the stock is to be cut by the described progressive application of clasps the rubber is always kept under control and prevented from escaping and retreating into the cover, and so entailing waste thereof by necessitating the cutting of the cover until the end of the rubber is reached.

In producing stock such as described the tension of the rubber and the feed of the braiding-machine are regulated so that the coverings will reach the limit of their extension under longitudinal strain on the stock before the rubber reaches the limit of its safe extension, which is that extension from which it will completely recover and under which there is no liability of its breaking. The coverings therefore protect the rubber from being impaired as to its elasticity and also from being broken. In producing such stock, also, the tension of the rubber and the feed of the braiding-machine are regulated so that in the normal and unstretched condition of the stock and the articles made from it the rubber will be under no tension whatever, whereby its elastic character is preserved unimpaired and its life greatly prolonged over stock in which the rubber is pinched by its covering; also, by following the described mode of producing the stock the covering thereof is in all practical conditions of the stock extremely soft and fluify.

The fiber may be applied by braiding, Weaving, winding, or otherwise. It is immaterial whether the stock is round or flat in cross-section or whether it has one or more strands of rubber; but whatever the character of the stock and however it may be produced it is desirable to observe in its production the described tensional regulations for the rubber and fiber.

I am aware that an arm-band composed of a core of one or more normally-stretched rubber strands and a tightly-braided and harsh fibrous covering is not new.

I am also aware that an arm-band composed of tortuous spiral springs inclosed in braided envelopes is not new.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A circlet composed of a section of elastic fiber-covered stock, a two-armed clasp, the arms whereof respectively bind the rubber and covering together at the ends of the section of stock, and a trimming inclosing the said clasp, the rubber being normally unstretched and the fibrous covering being loose around it. i

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GILBERT H. BLAKESLEY.

Witnesses:

HENRY STRUNZ, JOHN J. JENNINGS. 

